mrjohns2 582 Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 I just want to do a quick vent. Our scoutmaster doesn't get it. She keeps wanting the scouts to cook as a giant patrol for the Scouts and the leaders. She thinks it is too much work and KP for the patrols to cook separately. Ugh. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
SSScout 1616 Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 Yep. How many Scouts, how many Patrols actually? Patrol cooking and activities are important. Adult "Patrol".... Two Scouts make a Patrol. Patrols can be, ARE a measure of the TROOP'S success. Perhaps the SM sees the few Scouts (how many "few"?) just need to be economically, efficiently co-agulated into one "PATROL" of the whole. SM then misses the point. The gang is the Patrol. Kids want, will gravitate into a gang, if there is nothing else. Look at Haiti. as an extreme example. Patrols are a learning time, a chance to do "gang" stuff in a GOOD way. Where did SM do their training? What did they learn about Scouting? Are they a Scientist type? a Farmer type? A Teacher type? Everyone "all in their places with bright shining faces" type? What, after all, is Scouting's purpose? Self assurance? Skill and pride of accomplishment, perhaps? how is that accomplished if the Scouts aren't "turned loose" ? In a CSDC some years back, on the last day.... thru the past week we had daily sessions, rotated thru the day. Fairly organized.... On the last day, a "WATER FEST"> games, tug a war thru a mud pit, lots of just fun stuff. One lady came up to me and said she didn't understand how this could be a good thing, she didn't know what her Cub might be "LEARNING"... I asked her where her Cub was, where the Den was, she pointed "over there"... the Cub Wash area, the Sponge throw battle area... I asked was he smiling, was he enjoying himself. She nodded "I guess so." I said then we had been successful. Ask him about his knots and Poison Ivy later..Siren sounded and the Dens took off for the next wet thing...... Link to post Share on other sites
mrjohns2 582 Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 One patrol has 7 and the other 9. The one with 9 are older scouts. On the campout there were 3 in the older patrol and 5 in the younger patrol and 3 adults. Scoutmaster attended wood badge maybe 10 years ago. Link to post Share on other sites
InquisitiveScouter 1656 Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 (edited) 13 minutes ago, mrjohns2 said: One patrol has 7 and the other 9. The one with 9 are older scouts. On the campout there were 3 in the older patrol and 5 in the younger patrol and 3 adults. Scoutmaster attended wood badge maybe 10 years ago. That would be three separate menus/shopping/cooking/cleanup in our unit, so three patrols. 3 olders is enough for a "patrol." Edited April 15 by InquisitiveScouter 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites
mrjohns2 582 Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 1 hour ago, InquisitiveScouter said: That would be three separate menus/shopping/cooking/cleanup in our unit, so three patrols. Her argument is that is 3x the work. An ASM tried to explain to her that this is the process. This is how things get done. Cooking for 11 isn’t easy, or how it should be done. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
InquisitiveScouter 1656 Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 2 minutes ago, mrjohns2 said: Her argument is that is 3x the work. An ASM tried to explain to her that this is the process. This is how things get done. Cooking for 11 isn’t easy, or how it should be done. How is it 3x the work for her?? LOL And how will the Scouts learn, if not by doing? I know... preaching to the choir 😜 Link to post Share on other sites
SSScout 1616 Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 No Scout is going to starve in one weekend campout. Maybe three days, but not two.... And learning to cook is a three step process: 1) watch others cook (mom, dad, the Patrol Leader...) 2) trying it out yourself (when was the FIRST time you flipped a pancake successfully ?) 3) Finding out the cellophane and cardboard on the frozen pizza is NOT part of the ingredients,,,, .discovering that yes, you can cook Dinty Moore Stew in it's can, but you must OPEN IT first..... ... We will discuss hygiene and clean up next time.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites
fred8033 1593 Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 3 hours ago, SSScout said: Two Scouts make a Patrol. Minor argument that is negotiable. One scout on a campout could be a patrol. We can all agree a patrol is a patrol. Regrouping into adhoc patrols or doing doing things at the troop level subverts the patrol system. When forming long-term patrols at troop meetings, two patrols is not good. Ideally, seven scouts is a good patrol size. ... BUT if on the campout, only one scout from that patrol goes on the campout, then that scout should be given the option to cook by themselves. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
mrjohns2 582 Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 Awesome. I just wanted to get it out there. It feels better to be validated. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
SSScout 1616 Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 (edited) 3 hours ago, mrjohns2 said: Her argument is that is 3x the work. An ASM tried to explain to her that this is the process. This is how things get done. Cooking for 11 isn’t easy, or how it should be done. Work for who? Is the SM (she?) doing ALL the work? Is she teaching COOKING MB? Is she doing the KP? Is the CChr doing all they can to keep the SM occupied and busy elsewhere? The SM's job is to sit back by the campfire and say "go ask your Patrol Leader" with appropriate aplomb and important harumf sounds.... Edited April 15 by SSScout 2 Link to post Share on other sites
mrjohns2 582 Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 I know. She likes to interject ALL THE TIME. Leave the scouts be. Link to post Share on other sites
DuctTape 1231 Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 5 hours ago, mrjohns2 said: Her argument is that is 3x the work. An ASM tried to explain to her that this is the process. This is how things get done. Cooking for 11 isn’t easy, or how it should be done. Rephrase it as 3x the opportunities for scout growth. Scouting isn't "work". By her doing one big patrol she is denying scouts opportunities. Link to post Share on other sites
DuctTape 1231 Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 6 hours ago, mrjohns2 said: Scoutmaster attended wood badge maybe 10 years ago. Perhaps she needs a refresher course. Link to post Share on other sites
fred8033 1593 Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 9 hours ago, fred8033 said: Minor argument that is negotiable. One scout on a campout could be a patrol. We can all agree a patrol is a patrol. Regrouping into ad-hoc patrols or doing doing things at the troop level subverts the patrol system. When forming long-term patrols at troop meetings, two scouts patrols is not good. Ideally, seven scouts is a good patrol size. ... BUT if on the campout, only one scout from that patrol goes on the campout, then that scout should be given the option to cook by themselves. I hate typos in my own writing. Link to post Share on other sites
SiouxRanger 491 Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 (edited) We solved the "3x the work" cooking issue by camping next to the parking lot and ordering out-by patrols, of course. Separate patrol checks. Scouts can't cook, but at least "Thrifty" is a work-in-progress. Edited April 16 by SiouxRanger errant " 3 Link to post Share on other sites
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